Kvaratskhelia scores as Paris Saint-Germain extend scoring streak against Aston Villa
Paris Saint-Germain faced Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday evening in Salzburg, Austria. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored for Paris Saint-Germain in the 20th minute, giving his team the lead. This goal marked a significant achievement for the French club, extending their scoring streak to 29 consecutive matches across all competitions.
According to reports, this is Paris Saint-Germain’s longest scoring run since July 2020, when they scored in 36 consecutive matches. The last time the club did not score was on January 12, when they were defeated by Paris FC in the Coupe de France. Paris Saint-Germain is now seven matches away from matching their previous longest scoring run.
Emery’s Super Cup Challenge
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery sought his first Super Cup title in this match. Despite winning a fifth Europa League title with Aston Villa in May, the Super Cup has eluded him in previous attempts. This was Emery’s fourth try to win the competition, having previously experienced three straight Super Cup defeats.
Emery’s past Super Cup losses include defeats to Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Chelsea. He lost to Real Madrid and Barcelona while managing Sevilla, and then to Chelsea on penalties with Villarreal in 2021. A 5-4 extra-time loss to Barcelona occurred in 2015, a year after Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to secure the trophy for Real Madrid.
Despite being considered underdogs against Paris Saint-Germain, Emery expressed his team’s objective to play for trophies. He noted that the match was an opportunity to test Aston Villa’s capabilities against a strong opponent. Emery also highlighted the pride associated with competing for such a trophy.
Team Perspectives and Player Form
Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha dismissed suggestions that the club would treat the Super Cup as less important, despite their recent successes. He emphasised the team’s continued hunger for victories and trophies, acknowledging that maintaining high performance levels is challenging. Defender Marquinhos echoed this sentiment, stating that the team remains motivated to win.
Kvaratskhelia’s goal further extended his strong continental form. Reports indicate he has been involved in 11 goals across his last nine European matches, scoring eight goals and providing three assists during this period.
The match was a repeat of a Champions League quarter-final from the 2024-25 season, where Aston Villa nearly overcame a significant deficit against Paris Saint-Germain. Villa had trailed 3-1 from the first leg and were 5-1 down on aggregate before mounting a comeback to win the second leg 3-2, ultimately losing 5-4 on aggregate. Vitinha of Paris Saint-Germain acknowledged the difficulty of that previous encounter, particularly in the second half.
Aston Villa’s Squad Changes
Aston Villa’s lineup for the Super Cup match featured significant changes compared to their previous encounter with Paris Saint-Germain. Players such as Morgan Rogers, Lucas Digne, and Youri Tielemans have been sold. Midfielder Amadou Onana is currently out due to injury, and Boubacar Kamara is just returning from a serious knee injury sustained in January.
Additionally, Emi Martinez, Ezri Konsa, and Ollie Watkins did not travel with the squad after participating in the World Cup, as Emery granted them a month off. These changes mean that potentially only four of the starters from the previous match against the French champions might have started for Aston Villa in the Super Cup, with five of the substitutes from that game also no longer with the club.
Aston Villa captain John McGinn reflected on the changes within the club over the past eight years, noting the acquisition of young English talent and the high performance of players. He emphasised the club’s established structure, standards, and desire to achieve more, despite some believing the team had reached its peak a couple of seasons ago. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored for Paris Saint-Germain in the 20th minute of the match.
Source: bbc.com
